WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:15.519 Scientists say there are over two trillion galaxies in the universe. 00:00:15.519 --> 00:00:18.879 ! 00:00:18.879 --> 00:00:25.920 Each one has billions of stars, every star blazing because Jesus told it let there be light. 00:00:25.920 --> 00:00:26.920 ! 00:00:26.920 --> 00:00:34.600 Yet somehow, the same Jesus who holds all that together, the stars, the planets, gravity, 00:00:36.359 --> 00:00:39.960 the galaxies, holds you and me too. 00:00:42.359 --> 00:00:46.439 We scroll through a world sometimes that feels like it's spinning out of control. 00:00:47.980 --> 00:00:49.380 War is breaking out. 00:00:50.920 --> 00:00:52.359 Headlines are often depressing. 00:00:52.359 --> 00:01:00.200 But the world, or what we can call the cosmos, is not out of control. 00:01:01.159 --> 00:01:02.939 And neither are you. 00:01:02.939 --> 00:01:10.679 When I say the word cosmos, I'm talking about the Greek word for the order of the universe. 00:01:11.679 --> 00:01:14.000 Now, does anybody know who Carl Sagan was? 00:01:14.000 --> 00:01:21.599 You could say during his lifetime, Carl Sagan was public enemy number one of the Christian church. 00:01:21.599 --> 00:01:24.239 This guy went after Christianity. 00:01:24.239 --> 00:01:27.840 He went after the idea of Jesus. 00:01:27.840 --> 00:01:30.319 He went after the gospel. 00:01:30.319 --> 00:01:33.920 Definitely had nothing to do to support it. 00:01:33.920 --> 00:01:37.840 But what's really interesting is his quote here. 00:01:38.320 --> 00:01:46.000 And we're going to use a couple of his quotes because they really tie in to what Paul is going to teach us in our study of Colossians. 00:01:46.799 --> 00:01:49.879 So cosmos is a Greek word for the order of the universe. 00:01:50.120 --> 00:01:53.060 It is, in a way, the opposite of chaos. 00:01:53.060 --> 00:02:01.960 Isn't that interesting that what God created would end up defining order and not chaos? 00:02:03.299 --> 00:02:05.359 There's another quote that I want to share with you. 00:02:06.060 --> 00:02:08.920 And it's fascinating because Carl Sagan was an astronomer. 00:02:09.300 --> 00:02:10.719 He was a cosmetologist. 00:02:10.719 --> 00:02:13.920 He studied the unknown universe, the galaxies. 00:02:14.560 --> 00:02:16.060 Very famous, very successful. 00:02:16.719 --> 00:02:20.439 And he spent his life exploring the cosmic order. 00:02:20.439 --> 00:02:25.859 But he was widely known for his skepticism toward Christianity. 00:02:26.359 --> 00:02:30.879 But he actually observed these powerful truths like this one. 00:02:31.520 --> 00:02:35.719 Every one of us in the cosmic perspective is precious. 00:02:36.639 --> 00:02:40.960 If a human disagrees with you, then he's of no worth, right? 00:02:41.280 --> 00:02:41.560 No. 00:02:42.219 --> 00:02:42.879 Of course he is. 00:02:42.879 --> 00:02:44.379 He says, let him live. 00:02:44.960 --> 00:02:50.099 Because in a hundred billion galaxies, you will never find another. 00:02:50.439 --> 00:02:59.319 Isn't it fascinating that this quote shows you how much Carl Sagan grew to value human life, 00:02:59.319 --> 00:03:01.500 which is God's greatest creation. 00:03:02.159 --> 00:03:08.900 But he stopped just short of recognizing the one who actually holds it all together. 00:03:09.360 --> 00:03:11.579 And the one who created it all. 00:03:11.580 --> 00:03:14.719 So, skeptical of God. 00:03:14.719 --> 00:03:16.480 Critical of faith in Christ. 00:03:16.640 --> 00:03:22.120 But he lands so close to some of the very truths that we find in the scriptures. 00:03:22.800 --> 00:03:24.540 Recognize the universe has order. 00:03:25.240 --> 00:03:27.820 He recognized there's beauty and structure in that order. 00:03:28.120 --> 00:03:32.220 He recognized that human life is precious and it's unique in this universe. 00:03:32.219 --> 00:03:38.639 But he never got to pointing to the one who designed it all. 00:03:39.180 --> 00:03:39.699 Jesus. 00:03:40.740 --> 00:03:42.319 Colossians is going to do that. 00:03:42.860 --> 00:03:46.259 It's going to pick up where Carl Sagan never reached. 00:03:46.500 --> 00:03:49.280 It's going to show us the one who designed it all. 00:03:49.340 --> 00:03:51.300 The one who is reconciling. 00:03:52.099 --> 00:03:55.439 Bringing together for its intended purpose. 00:03:55.439 --> 00:03:57.939 This cosmos. 00:03:58.740 --> 00:04:01.680 This ordered universe in which we live. 00:04:02.259 --> 00:04:06.079 And not only is it being reconciled, it's being restored through Christ. 00:04:06.180 --> 00:04:07.079 And we're going to look at that. 00:04:07.259 --> 00:04:12.079 And we're going to see how our lives are part of this grand cosmic story. 00:04:12.560 --> 00:04:14.939 And Jesus is over it all. 00:04:15.259 --> 00:04:16.659 So that's what we're going to look at today. 00:04:16.759 --> 00:04:18.800 Is Christ over the cosmos. 00:04:18.800 --> 00:04:23.860 This is week one in our series in Paul's letter to the church at Colossae. 00:04:24.520 --> 00:04:27.540 Christ over all a series through Colossians. 00:04:27.639 --> 00:04:31.520 So would you take the word of God with me and turn to Colossians chapter one. 00:04:31.860 --> 00:04:35.680 If you've got the Bible app on your phone and you want to use that, that's fine. 00:04:35.699 --> 00:04:38.800 If you want to use the Bible in front of you, if you brought your own copy, 00:04:38.939 --> 00:04:41.139 or if you want to look on with someone else, that's fine. 00:04:41.180 --> 00:04:44.540 But let's look at Colossians chapter one. 00:04:44.540 --> 00:04:49.560 Who wrote Colossians? 00:04:49.780 --> 00:04:52.740 First off, the apostle Paul wrote Colossians. 00:04:55.520 --> 00:05:00.260 Without diving into who Paul was exactly, many of you are familiar. 00:05:01.020 --> 00:05:07.900 One of the key figures of the New Testament and this church that started after Jesus' death, burial, resurrection. 00:05:08.400 --> 00:05:10.360 He went back to heaven to be with his father. 00:05:10.360 --> 00:05:16.020 And he left his followers here on this earth with God present with them through the Holy Spirit. 00:05:16.520 --> 00:05:20.939 And so little churches started popping up all around the globe of Jesus' followers. 00:05:21.100 --> 00:05:26.620 And Paul became one of their key leaders and figures speaking into the lives of these churches. 00:05:26.800 --> 00:05:33.100 So around AD 60 to 62, Paul found himself under house arrest. 00:05:33.100 --> 00:05:37.760 He was basically in prison under house arrest in Rome. 00:05:38.760 --> 00:05:46.180 And this was about 1,600 miles from Colossae, the church that he's writing to. 00:05:47.240 --> 00:05:49.620 Because oftentimes you say, why was Paul in Rome? 00:05:49.780 --> 00:05:51.020 Why was he in prison? 00:05:51.100 --> 00:05:52.180 Why was he under house arrest? 00:05:52.379 --> 00:05:57.900 Because oftentimes this message was seen as civil disobedience. 00:05:58.100 --> 00:06:01.260 It was often seen as causing unrest, causing problems. 00:06:01.259 --> 00:06:08.079 And so Paul would often find himself on the wrong side of the law, not through any wrongdoing or criminal activity, 00:06:08.300 --> 00:06:15.159 but simply through preaching the name of Jesus in places where it would cause and incite unrest. 00:06:16.360 --> 00:06:20.159 And so even though God used Paul mightily and powerfully, 00:06:20.899 --> 00:06:24.219 he often found himself in situations like this where he was in jail. 00:06:24.339 --> 00:06:26.560 And so this time was one of the better ones. 00:06:26.560 --> 00:06:34.060 He was actually confined to a house, not a terrible prison, but he was allowed to write letters, have visitors come in and see him. 00:06:34.379 --> 00:06:42.199 And so while he's there, he gets a special visitor from this place called Colossae over 1,600 miles away. 00:06:42.840 --> 00:06:46.540 Paul had never been to Colossae, never made it out to visit this church. 00:06:46.980 --> 00:06:48.779 Things had prevented him from doing that. 00:06:48.779 --> 00:06:52.199 And yet he gets a visitor. 00:06:52.779 --> 00:07:00.339 And it's the pastor of this young, new, small gathering of people following Jesus in this town called Colossae. 00:07:01.139 --> 00:07:04.199 And he comes to visit Paul in Rome, makes the long journey. 00:07:05.359 --> 00:07:06.619 His name was Epaphras. 00:07:07.399 --> 00:07:09.319 And he was a devoted disciple of Paul. 00:07:09.819 --> 00:07:10.739 Paul knew Epaphras. 00:07:11.059 --> 00:07:13.019 He had followed Paul, learned from him. 00:07:13.019 --> 00:07:18.539 And now he was going out as a disciple, not just of Paul, but of Jesus. 00:07:19.459 --> 00:07:24.699 And he came with reports about the faith and the challenges of this church in Colossae. 00:07:25.219 --> 00:07:27.099 So what was the problem? 00:07:27.879 --> 00:07:30.899 Some members of their church were getting confused. 00:07:31.759 --> 00:07:39.259 They were blending religious traditions and difficult requirements with the gospel or the good news of Jesus. 00:07:39.259 --> 00:07:42.360 It was supposed to be a simple truth. 00:07:42.899 --> 00:07:47.819 And they were trying to blend it and mix it and water it down with these religious ideas. 00:07:48.920 --> 00:07:57.219 Paul writes to point them away from all that and to the one person of Jesus Christ and to anchor them in him. 00:07:58.259 --> 00:08:03.800 So the theme of this book of Colossians is that Christ is supreme over all creation. 00:08:04.240 --> 00:08:06.579 And he's supreme over the church. 00:08:07.219 --> 00:08:08.539 He sustains everything. 00:08:08.540 --> 00:08:10.120 He reconciles everything. 00:08:10.120 --> 00:08:12.840 And he's fully sufficient for life. 00:08:13.000 --> 00:08:13.860 All of life. 00:08:14.980 --> 00:08:19.980 So he wants to tell them that Jesus isn't just part of your life. 00:08:20.040 --> 00:08:21.480 He's the center of it. 00:08:22.000 --> 00:08:26.500 From Jesus flows everything else that you need in your life. 00:08:27.120 --> 00:08:29.560 So let's look at chapter 1 and verse 1. 00:08:32.300 --> 00:08:34.440 Hopefully you're there by now and you're not like me. 00:08:34.600 --> 00:08:37.879 And you got busy talking and didn't turn there myself. 00:08:37.879 --> 00:08:38.580 So here we go. 00:08:38.659 --> 00:08:38.879 All right. 00:08:38.960 --> 00:08:41.419 Colossians chapter 1 and verse 1. 00:08:41.539 --> 00:08:50.960 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus, by God's will, and Timothy, our brother, to the saints in Christ at Colossae, who are faithful brothers and sisters. 00:08:51.039 --> 00:08:53.500 He heard enough about them to know that they're faithful. 00:08:53.879 --> 00:08:55.580 And he greets them with his standard greeting. 00:08:55.580 --> 00:09:12.840 Can we pause right there? 00:09:12.840 --> 00:09:14.800 Two things he just thanked them for. 00:09:15.259 --> 00:09:17.040 Faith and what was the other one? 00:09:18.560 --> 00:09:19.600 Look back at it. 00:09:20.420 --> 00:09:20.820 Love. 00:09:20.940 --> 00:09:21.340 There we go. 00:09:21.480 --> 00:09:22.540 Faith and love. 00:09:22.620 --> 00:09:23.040 That's it. 00:09:23.379 --> 00:09:24.300 Peace is a good thing to have. 00:09:24.500 --> 00:09:28.259 But right there, he was thanking them for their faith and love. 00:09:28.340 --> 00:09:30.120 Those are two essential ingredients. 00:09:30.500 --> 00:09:31.460 They're not just ingredients. 00:09:31.639 --> 00:09:35.440 They should be what we're known for as the people of God. 00:09:35.440 --> 00:09:39.780 Our faith and not just our faith, saying we believe in God. 00:09:39.880 --> 00:09:42.120 We've figured out the truth and we're better than you because of it. 00:09:42.220 --> 00:09:42.420 Nope. 00:09:42.620 --> 00:09:43.940 That's where you're missing the love part. 00:09:44.360 --> 00:09:46.640 Not just faith, but also love. 00:09:46.740 --> 00:09:48.560 We should be known for both. 00:09:49.100 --> 00:09:52.380 So thankfully, Paul was able to point that out to this church in Colossae and say, 00:09:52.720 --> 00:09:55.060 I'm thanking you for your faith and love. 00:09:55.100 --> 00:09:58.460 And it shows up in how you live and how you care for others. 00:09:58.460 --> 00:10:02.920 You have already heard about this hope, he says, in the word of truth. 00:10:03.280 --> 00:10:05.440 The gospel, or is that word? 00:10:05.500 --> 00:10:06.519 It means good news. 00:10:07.139 --> 00:10:12.820 It means the story of Jesus and how he came to deliver us from sin, to forgive us, 00:10:13.400 --> 00:10:16.340 to make things right between us and God. 00:10:17.040 --> 00:10:18.139 That's the gospel. 00:10:18.820 --> 00:10:22.759 Look at John 3.16 if you need one verse that shows you what the gospel is. 00:10:24.180 --> 00:10:26.639 He said, this gospel has come to you. 00:10:26.639 --> 00:10:27.660 You've heard it. 00:10:29.240 --> 00:10:32.500 Epaphras is the one who brought the good news to them, the gospel. 00:10:33.620 --> 00:10:35.580 And he says, it's bearing fruit. 00:10:36.240 --> 00:10:39.960 And it's growing all over the world. 00:10:40.440 --> 00:10:42.280 It's spreading everywhere. 00:10:42.540 --> 00:10:44.400 These were the early days of the church. 00:10:44.400 --> 00:10:51.900 And this powerful, life-changing, transforming message of Jesus was spreading everywhere. 00:10:52.680 --> 00:10:55.580 It hadn't been that long since he rose from the dead. 00:10:55.580 --> 00:11:00.540 And this Christian faith was spreading like wildfire. 00:11:00.539 --> 00:11:12.659 So he says, just as it has among you, growing all over the world, just as it has among you, since the day you heard it and came to truly appreciate God's grace. 00:11:12.659 --> 00:11:15.459 You think they were having some baptisms too? 00:11:16.259 --> 00:11:17.899 You think they were having some great things happen? 00:11:18.000 --> 00:11:20.980 You think they were having some people turn from sin and turn to Jesus? 00:11:21.319 --> 00:11:22.139 Absolutely they were. 00:11:22.439 --> 00:11:25.719 This is the fruit that Paul's talking about in this letter. 00:11:25.720 --> 00:11:29.379 You learned this from Epaphras, our dearly loved fellow servant. 00:11:29.720 --> 00:11:32.220 He's a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf. 00:11:32.220 --> 00:11:35.580 Let me just pause and say, this is Pastor Appreciation Month. 00:11:35.660 --> 00:11:37.720 I don't know who decided that, but I'm not mad at them. 00:11:37.879 --> 00:11:38.139 All right? 00:11:39.200 --> 00:11:47.220 You guys have been amazing in pouring out expressions of gratefulness and appreciation to myself, to Jared, to Megan, to our staff. 00:11:47.340 --> 00:11:49.720 I mean, y'all included Joy and Laura Lee, and I think that's wonderful. 00:11:50.139 --> 00:11:52.779 So you've been very kind and very appreciative of that. 00:11:53.180 --> 00:11:56.740 And when you have faithful ministers, it's important to do that. 00:11:56.740 --> 00:12:04.500 The only time I've paid the money to go buy tickets to a Dallas Cowboys football game was when I took my pastor to go see a Dallas Cowboys football game. 00:12:05.220 --> 00:12:06.580 Like, man, those things are expensive. 00:12:06.659 --> 00:12:07.200 But you know what? 00:12:07.220 --> 00:12:07.759 He's worth it. 00:12:07.799 --> 00:12:08.320 He's my pastor. 00:12:08.419 --> 00:12:09.159 He's doing a great job. 00:12:09.220 --> 00:12:10.360 And he was a big Cowboys fan. 00:12:10.539 --> 00:12:12.560 So part of that, I think, was for me too. 00:12:12.620 --> 00:12:13.180 But we had fun. 00:12:13.560 --> 00:12:14.139 But you know what? 00:12:14.200 --> 00:12:21.820 Y'all have been wonderful and generous and so great in showing appreciation and support of your faithful ministers in Christ. 00:12:22.419 --> 00:12:23.340 Doesn't mean we're perfect. 00:12:23.539 --> 00:12:24.899 I think y'all know we aren't perfect. 00:12:25.220 --> 00:12:25.899 But you know what? 00:12:25.940 --> 00:12:26.620 You aren't perfect either. 00:12:26.740 --> 00:12:28.100 So we all fit together pretty well. 00:12:28.940 --> 00:12:32.240 But it's important to do that to our faithful ministers of Christ. 00:12:32.560 --> 00:12:36.539 And then he says he's told us about your love in the Spirit. 00:12:38.480 --> 00:12:39.639 So this is great. 00:12:40.340 --> 00:12:41.659 This is all good news. 00:12:42.320 --> 00:12:44.980 They have the most important things down. 00:12:45.460 --> 00:12:46.759 They've got their faith. 00:12:47.340 --> 00:12:48.379 They've heard the gospel. 00:12:48.779 --> 00:12:52.060 They have a faithful minister, and they're known for their love. 00:12:52.659 --> 00:12:53.419 That's good. 00:12:53.419 --> 00:13:02.439 And I think that's why Paul said, now I want to try to help you grow even more because you've already got a great foundation here. 00:13:02.440 --> 00:13:05.240 So let's skip down now to verse 9. 00:13:05.240 --> 00:13:14.139 For this reason, since the day we heard this, we have not stopped praying for you. 00:13:14.139 --> 00:13:26.639 We are asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of God's will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, so that you may walk worthy of the Lord. 00:13:26.639 --> 00:13:30.519 This is one of the key verses of this whole letter to Colossians right here. 00:13:30.919 --> 00:13:36.019 That you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him. 00:13:36.379 --> 00:13:43.059 Would anybody say, man, I hope tomorrow I wake up and walk worthy of God, fully pleasing to him? 00:13:43.799 --> 00:13:44.480 Am I the only one? 00:13:45.159 --> 00:13:45.960 Yeah, there you go. 00:13:45.960 --> 00:13:48.460 I think most of us would say, yeah, that'd be good. 00:13:48.840 --> 00:13:50.460 Day would probably go pretty well. 00:13:51.780 --> 00:13:53.379 It's hard to do that, isn't it? 00:13:53.759 --> 00:13:55.000 But that is the goal. 00:13:56.180 --> 00:14:00.460 And God, by his spirit, can help us do that. 00:14:01.019 --> 00:14:01.220 Okay? 00:14:01.680 --> 00:14:05.560 So let's look down at verse 10. 00:14:05.559 --> 00:14:15.699 You can walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work, and growing in all wisdom. 00:14:17.279 --> 00:14:19.839 Growing in the knowledge of God. 00:14:20.559 --> 00:14:21.039 Verse 11. 00:14:21.439 --> 00:14:25.759 Being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might. 00:14:26.619 --> 00:14:30.359 Just throwing that in there in case you thought it meant going to the gym and getting buff. 00:14:30.539 --> 00:14:30.859 All right? 00:14:31.339 --> 00:14:33.919 That's not the kind of strengthening he's talking about. 00:14:33.919 --> 00:14:35.519 According to God's power. 00:14:35.879 --> 00:14:37.039 According to God's might. 00:14:37.039 --> 00:14:49.120 So that you may have great endurance and patience, joyfully giving thanks to the Father who has enabled you to share in the saints' inheritance in the light. 00:14:49.259 --> 00:14:50.860 Remember all that God's given you. 00:14:51.139 --> 00:14:54.159 He's got a great, big, fat inheritance waiting for you. 00:14:54.919 --> 00:14:57.019 Nobody ever left me a great, big, fat inheritance. 00:14:57.299 --> 00:14:57.539 All right? 00:14:57.599 --> 00:14:59.019 Maybe some of y'all have that. 00:14:59.860 --> 00:15:00.299 Got it. 00:15:00.419 --> 00:15:01.360 Maybe you didn't. 00:15:01.360 --> 00:15:07.139 But God has a beautiful, rich, wonderful inheritance waiting for us. 00:15:07.240 --> 00:15:11.019 It's called eternal life in his presence in heaven. 00:15:11.259 --> 00:15:12.740 Where all sin will be gone. 00:15:13.240 --> 00:15:14.399 All pain will be gone. 00:15:15.100 --> 00:15:19.279 And we'll get to enjoy God's world just as he intended it. 00:15:20.879 --> 00:15:22.580 That's this wonderful inheritance. 00:15:22.919 --> 00:15:26.039 And we get to start tasting it now on this earth. 00:15:26.039 --> 00:15:33.039 In bits and pieces when we gather together with the saints in Christ and we enjoy this beautiful fellowship with each other. 00:15:33.459 --> 00:15:41.199 When we grow and God works through problems and storms of life with us, we get to start tasting this inheritance that we have. 00:15:41.299 --> 00:15:43.599 Because we've got the promise of it with us. 00:15:43.959 --> 00:15:45.240 It's called the Holy Spirit. 00:15:46.219 --> 00:15:50.299 That's the promise or the guarantee of this inheritance that's coming. 00:15:50.860 --> 00:15:52.019 So he's reminding them of this. 00:15:52.599 --> 00:15:53.959 This is what's waiting for you up ahead. 00:15:53.960 --> 00:15:57.300 And he said he has rescued us from the domain of darkness. 00:15:57.920 --> 00:15:59.320 Just by uplifted hand. 00:15:59.400 --> 00:16:00.379 You don't have to tell the story. 00:16:00.519 --> 00:16:06.259 But has anybody ever lived a few days or months or years in the domain of darkness in your life? 00:16:06.440 --> 00:16:06.600 Yeah. 00:16:07.100 --> 00:16:07.519 Me too. 00:16:08.420 --> 00:16:11.840 I've wandered in the domain of darkness a few times myself. 00:16:13.700 --> 00:16:15.420 But he's rescued us from that. 00:16:16.139 --> 00:16:20.960 And he's transferred us into the kingdom of the son he loves. 00:16:20.960 --> 00:16:23.100 He loves in him. 00:16:23.340 --> 00:16:24.759 We have redemption. 00:16:25.120 --> 00:16:27.660 The forgiveness of sins. 00:16:27.780 --> 00:16:29.340 How powerful is that? 00:16:29.340 --> 00:16:34.500 So he's asking God to give them strength to handle whatever life throws at them with joy. 00:16:35.720 --> 00:16:38.259 He reminds them that God rescued them from darkness. 00:16:38.460 --> 00:16:39.840 Brought them into Jesus' kingdom. 00:16:40.560 --> 00:16:43.340 And we get to hear all about what Jesus' kingdom looks like. 00:16:43.660 --> 00:16:45.780 We went through a series on the parables of Jesus. 00:16:45.980 --> 00:16:47.180 Talking about the kingdom of God. 00:16:47.440 --> 00:16:48.519 Called Stories of the Kingdom. 00:16:48.639 --> 00:16:50.519 You can go back on YouTube and find that if you're interested. 00:16:51.340 --> 00:16:54.879 But God's kingdom, Jesus' kingdom is so different from the domain of darkness. 00:16:55.620 --> 00:16:56.680 Flips it on its head. 00:16:56.679 --> 00:16:57.959 The rules don't apply. 00:16:59.039 --> 00:17:00.279 The last shall be first. 00:17:00.359 --> 00:17:01.319 The first will be last. 00:17:01.419 --> 00:17:03.919 He who is greater will be least in the kingdom of God, etc. 00:17:04.839 --> 00:17:05.700 It's so different. 00:17:06.299 --> 00:17:08.759 And so he says he's brought you into this. 00:17:09.339 --> 00:17:12.599 Through Jesus, you have forgiveness and a fresh start. 00:17:13.039 --> 00:17:14.319 So he's reminding them of all this. 00:17:14.639 --> 00:17:15.859 Then we get to verse 15. 00:17:15.960 --> 00:17:17.519 And this is where we're going to spend the rest of our time. 00:17:18.240 --> 00:17:20.659 Verse 15 down through verse 20. 00:17:20.660 --> 00:17:25.840 This theme of these next, what is that? 00:17:25.940 --> 00:17:26.420 Six verses? 00:17:27.100 --> 00:17:32.279 These next six verses is that Christ is central. 00:17:33.120 --> 00:17:35.680 Christ over all. 00:17:36.300 --> 00:17:37.300 That's the theme. 00:17:37.680 --> 00:17:41.240 That's why we call this whole series in Colossians. 00:17:41.700 --> 00:17:43.600 Christ over all. 00:17:43.599 --> 00:17:46.079 Jesus is the Christ. 00:17:46.480 --> 00:17:48.459 And Christ is over all. 00:17:48.619 --> 00:17:51.480 This theme this morning is Christ over the cosmos. 00:17:52.079 --> 00:17:56.919 Christ over the ordered, created universe in which we live. 00:17:57.019 --> 00:17:58.099 So, verse 15. 00:17:58.099 --> 00:18:02.399 He, Jesus Christ, is the image of the invisible God. 00:18:02.719 --> 00:18:04.379 The firstborn over all creation. 00:18:04.719 --> 00:18:08.319 For everything was created by him in heaven and on earth. 00:18:08.579 --> 00:18:09.779 The visible, the invisible. 00:18:10.159 --> 00:18:12.879 Whether it's thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. 00:18:13.099 --> 00:18:18.659 All things have been created by him or through him and for him. 00:18:19.699 --> 00:18:21.359 And he is before all things. 00:18:23.079 --> 00:18:26.039 And by him, all things hold together. 00:18:26.039 --> 00:18:29.700 By him, all things hold together. 00:18:30.839 --> 00:18:31.779 He is the head of the body. 00:18:32.299 --> 00:18:33.460 He is the head of the church. 00:18:33.619 --> 00:18:35.059 That's what they mean by the body. 00:18:35.500 --> 00:18:36.839 He is the head of the church. 00:18:36.940 --> 00:18:38.059 The body of Christ. 00:18:38.460 --> 00:18:39.000 He's the beginning. 00:18:39.420 --> 00:18:41.099 He's the firstborn from the dead. 00:18:41.519 --> 00:18:45.119 So that he might come to have first place in everything. 00:18:46.500 --> 00:18:50.700 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him. 00:18:50.899 --> 00:18:51.180 Jesus. 00:18:51.339 --> 00:18:52.379 Can you imagine that? 00:18:52.759 --> 00:18:54.519 All the fullness of God. 00:18:54.940 --> 00:18:55.960 That's a lot of fullness. 00:18:56.039 --> 00:18:58.599 God's pretty full. 00:18:59.420 --> 00:19:00.399 God's big. 00:19:00.839 --> 00:19:01.799 God's vast. 00:19:02.200 --> 00:19:06.940 And all the fullness of God lived in Jesus. 00:19:08.619 --> 00:19:15.079 And through him, through Jesus, he reconciled everything to himself. 00:19:15.079 --> 00:19:17.599 Whether things on earth or things in heaven. 00:19:17.759 --> 00:19:18.519 How did he do it? 00:19:18.519 --> 00:19:22.899 By making peace through his blood shed on the cross. 00:19:22.939 --> 00:19:25.139 We're going to stop there for today. 00:19:25.559 --> 00:19:27.539 And let's look back at what we just read. 00:19:27.899 --> 00:19:29.059 There's a theme here. 00:19:29.720 --> 00:19:31.519 There's a big idea here. 00:19:31.519 --> 00:19:36.259 The idea is you don't put Jesus in your life story. 00:19:38.579 --> 00:19:41.160 Your life fits inside his story. 00:19:41.160 --> 00:19:47.300 You don't just try to find a spot for Jesus in your life. 00:19:47.299 --> 00:19:50.180 If you do. 00:19:50.180 --> 00:19:54.740 You're not following Jesus. 00:19:55.460 --> 00:19:57.960 You're just aware of Jesus. 00:19:58.359 --> 00:20:01.159 And maybe you have some admiration for Jesus. 00:20:01.159 --> 00:20:02.619 And you call it love. 00:20:02.619 --> 00:20:05.119 Or whatever it might be. 00:20:05.779 --> 00:20:07.159 You have feelings. 00:20:07.619 --> 00:20:09.439 You have a history with Jesus. 00:20:10.139 --> 00:20:11.799 But you're not following him. 00:20:12.619 --> 00:20:17.719 Unless you understand that your life fits inside his story. 00:20:18.339 --> 00:20:20.779 History is his story. 00:20:21.239 --> 00:20:22.959 It's the story of Jesus. 00:20:23.959 --> 00:20:27.679 He is the most central figure in the history of this world. 00:20:27.680 --> 00:20:32.200 He's the one that holds it all together. 00:20:32.860 --> 00:20:34.640 So let's look more into this. 00:20:35.460 --> 00:20:36.120 Number one. 00:20:36.220 --> 00:20:36.799 Point one. 00:20:37.039 --> 00:20:38.600 If you're keeping track in your bulletin. 00:20:38.720 --> 00:20:39.259 Is this. 00:20:39.400 --> 00:20:41.340 We see it in verses 15 down through 17. 00:20:41.500 --> 00:20:43.920 Christ reigns over a few things. 00:20:46.019 --> 00:20:47.440 I've seen if y'all are paying attention. 00:20:47.880 --> 00:20:50.380 Christ reigns over everything. 00:20:50.580 --> 00:20:51.000 There we go. 00:20:51.080 --> 00:20:51.600 Yes he does. 00:20:51.720 --> 00:20:54.100 Christ reigns over everything. 00:20:54.420 --> 00:20:55.920 Not just a few things. 00:20:56.000 --> 00:20:56.980 Over everything. 00:20:56.980 --> 00:20:58.779 Not just Sunday. 00:20:59.099 --> 00:21:00.940 Over Monday through Saturday too. 00:21:01.360 --> 00:21:04.700 Christ doesn't just reign over your Bible when you read it. 00:21:04.980 --> 00:21:06.680 Christ reigns over every part. 00:21:07.920 --> 00:21:10.220 Christ reigns over my fantasy football league. 00:21:10.299 --> 00:21:10.720 I don't know. 00:21:14.620 --> 00:21:16.400 If he did I'd probably be winning more. 00:21:17.640 --> 00:21:18.240 Listen. 00:21:18.420 --> 00:21:20.180 Christ reigns over everything. 00:21:20.420 --> 00:21:22.299 Even the little trivial things. 00:21:22.299 --> 00:21:24.519 That just don't seem to mean that much. 00:21:24.539 --> 00:21:25.759 Or matter that much. 00:21:25.759 --> 00:21:27.859 Does Christ reign over everything. 00:21:28.059 --> 00:21:28.779 Yes he does. 00:21:28.879 --> 00:21:29.900 What does that look like. 00:21:29.960 --> 00:21:30.779 Well let's figure it out. 00:21:30.980 --> 00:21:32.200 Let's figure out what that looks like. 00:21:32.480 --> 00:21:33.359 Back in verse 15. 00:21:33.480 --> 00:21:35.200 He is the image of the invisible God. 00:21:35.500 --> 00:21:36.299 The firstborn. 00:21:36.559 --> 00:21:38.279 Over all creation. 00:21:39.180 --> 00:21:40.819 God has put his firstborn. 00:21:41.000 --> 00:21:42.420 And only begotten son. 00:21:42.879 --> 00:21:44.359 Over all of creation. 00:21:44.879 --> 00:21:45.779 For it says. 00:21:45.960 --> 00:21:46.599 In him. 00:21:46.759 --> 00:21:48.160 All things were created. 00:21:48.160 --> 00:21:50.000 Some people think. 00:21:50.000 --> 00:21:51.100 Jesus had no part. 00:21:51.100 --> 00:21:52.120 In the creation. 00:21:52.120 --> 00:21:53.100 Of this world. 00:21:53.100 --> 00:21:54.740 But God literally says. 00:21:55.080 --> 00:21:55.500 In him. 00:21:55.500 --> 00:21:57.140 All things were created. 00:21:57.540 --> 00:21:58.620 And we see. 00:21:59.000 --> 00:21:59.600 Back in Genesis. 00:21:59.759 --> 00:22:00.620 There's a reference to. 00:22:00.740 --> 00:22:01.100 The father. 00:22:01.259 --> 00:22:01.480 Son. 00:22:01.540 --> 00:22:02.000 And spirit. 00:22:02.460 --> 00:22:02.840 Together. 00:22:03.100 --> 00:22:03.540 Working. 00:22:04.040 --> 00:22:04.620 Involved. 00:22:04.700 --> 00:22:05.460 In creation. 00:22:06.500 --> 00:22:08.180 All things have been created. 00:22:08.440 --> 00:22:09.060 Through him. 00:22:09.580 --> 00:22:11.019 And for him. 00:22:11.700 --> 00:22:13.340 For his good pleasure. 00:22:14.040 --> 00:22:15.740 He's before all things. 00:22:15.740 --> 00:22:16.660 And in him. 00:22:16.759 --> 00:22:17.420 All things. 00:22:17.819 --> 00:22:18.599 Hold together. 00:22:18.720 --> 00:22:19.420 What does this mean? 00:22:19.839 --> 00:22:21.160 Jesus didn't just. 00:22:21.400 --> 00:22:21.819 Enter. 00:22:22.180 --> 00:22:22.700 The story. 00:22:23.519 --> 00:22:24.539 Jesus was always. 00:22:24.539 --> 00:22:25.339 Part of the story. 00:22:25.799 --> 00:22:26.799 He was where the story. 00:22:26.920 --> 00:22:27.779 Came from. 00:22:28.039 --> 00:22:29.000 He started it. 00:22:29.059 --> 00:22:30.059 He originated it. 00:22:30.779 --> 00:22:31.620 Every star. 00:22:31.759 --> 00:22:32.559 Every galaxy. 00:22:32.759 --> 00:22:33.599 Every heartbeat. 00:22:34.680 --> 00:22:35.799 Every emotion. 00:22:36.519 --> 00:22:37.359 Every breath. 00:22:38.200 --> 00:22:39.440 Owes its existence. 00:22:40.160 --> 00:22:40.940 To Jesus. 00:22:41.819 --> 00:22:42.460 To God. 00:22:43.380 --> 00:22:44.539 John chapter 1. 00:22:44.620 --> 00:22:45.180 In verse 3. 00:22:45.180 --> 00:22:46.600 Teaches us more about this. 00:22:47.600 --> 00:22:48.360 I already said that. 00:22:48.480 --> 00:22:49.200 Jesus didn't just. 00:22:49.279 --> 00:22:49.799 Enter the story. 00:22:49.880 --> 00:22:50.460 He started it. 00:22:50.500 --> 00:22:50.940 There you go. 00:22:51.080 --> 00:22:51.900 If you're taking notes. 00:22:51.960 --> 00:22:52.580 You've got that now. 00:22:52.660 --> 00:22:53.120 John 1. 00:22:53.160 --> 00:22:53.340 3. 00:22:53.380 --> 00:22:53.759 Here we go. 00:22:54.180 --> 00:22:55.700 God created everything. 00:22:55.700 --> 00:22:56.779 Through him. 00:22:56.880 --> 00:22:57.519 That's Jesus. 00:22:57.660 --> 00:22:58.360 He's talking about. 00:22:58.759 --> 00:23:00.019 God created everything. 00:23:00.240 --> 00:23:00.759 Through Jesus. 00:23:00.980 --> 00:23:02.240 And nothing was created. 00:23:02.640 --> 00:23:03.060 Except. 00:23:03.640 --> 00:23:04.600 Through him. 00:23:05.880 --> 00:23:06.519 Do you understand? 00:23:06.640 --> 00:23:07.860 That Jesus's story. 00:23:08.019 --> 00:23:08.960 Did not start. 00:23:09.640 --> 00:23:10.380 As a baby. 00:23:10.580 --> 00:23:11.060 In a manger. 00:23:11.059 --> 00:23:11.700 Father. 00:23:11.700 --> 00:23:12.179 Father. 00:23:12.179 --> 00:23:13.879 Some of you might be. 00:23:14.039 --> 00:23:14.700 Realizing that. 00:23:14.819 --> 00:23:15.500 For the first time. 00:23:16.879 --> 00:23:17.480 Jesus. 00:23:18.039 --> 00:23:18.559 Is. 00:23:18.919 --> 00:23:19.399 God. 00:23:19.740 --> 00:23:20.039 God. 00:23:20.039 --> 00:23:20.500 Has. 00:23:20.619 --> 00:23:21.099 Always. 00:23:21.319 --> 00:23:21.599 Been. 00:23:21.759 --> 00:23:21.919 God. 00:23:21.980 --> 00:23:22.079 Is. 00:23:22.240 --> 00:23:22.819 Outside. 00:23:23.480 --> 00:23:23.839 Of. 00:23:24.039 --> 00:23:24.799 The boundaries. 00:23:24.799 --> 00:23:25.299 Of. 00:23:25.480 --> 00:23:25.779 Human. 00:23:25.919 --> 00:23:26.319 Life. 00:23:27.019 --> 00:23:28.000 And this world. 00:23:28.119 --> 00:23:28.440 In which. 00:23:28.639 --> 00:23:29.119 We live. 00:23:29.200 --> 00:23:29.440 He. 00:23:29.839 --> 00:23:30.519 Created it. 00:23:30.879 --> 00:23:32.059 He gave it to us. 00:23:32.119 --> 00:23:32.779 He started. 00:23:33.139 --> 00:23:33.700 This. 00:23:33.960 --> 00:23:34.299 Story. 00:23:34.299 --> 00:23:36.000 Everything was created. 00:23:37.000 --> 00:23:37.899 By him. 00:23:38.299 --> 00:23:38.799 Through him. 00:23:39.000 --> 00:23:40.139 And nothing was created. 00:23:40.659 --> 00:23:41.200 Except. 00:23:41.680 --> 00:23:41.919 Through. 00:23:42.279 --> 00:23:42.539 Him. 00:23:43.779 --> 00:23:44.119 So. 00:23:45.399 --> 00:23:46.419 Here's the truth. 00:23:47.559 --> 00:23:48.839 You're not holding. 00:23:49.579 --> 00:23:50.740 Your life together. 00:23:52.180 --> 00:23:53.039 God is. 00:23:54.119 --> 00:23:55.180 God holds it. 00:23:55.539 --> 00:23:56.440 In his hands. 00:23:57.700 --> 00:23:58.079 Jesus. 00:23:58.680 --> 00:23:59.200 Holds it. 00:23:59.419 --> 00:24:00.099 In his hands. 00:24:00.700 --> 00:24:01.740 When your world. 00:24:01.899 --> 00:24:03.159 Feels like it's falling apart. 00:24:03.160 --> 00:24:03.680 Remember. 00:24:04.700 --> 00:24:05.400 Your savior. 00:24:05.759 --> 00:24:06.480 Still holds. 00:24:06.580 --> 00:24:07.140 The universe. 00:24:07.340 --> 00:24:07.660 Together. 00:24:09.200 --> 00:24:09.560 So. 00:24:11.000 --> 00:24:12.120 Christ reigns. 00:24:12.300 --> 00:24:13.000 Over everything. 00:24:13.140 --> 00:24:13.580 Number two. 00:24:14.200 --> 00:24:14.640 Christ. 00:24:15.340 --> 00:24:15.660 Restores. 00:24:16.080 --> 00:24:16.440 Everything. 00:24:17.120 --> 00:24:17.940 This is where we're going. 00:24:18.040 --> 00:24:18.800 This is point two. 00:24:18.880 --> 00:24:19.600 Of two points. 00:24:19.680 --> 00:24:19.920 All right. 00:24:20.080 --> 00:24:21.200 We're on our last point here. 00:24:21.720 --> 00:24:22.540 We're doing all right. 00:24:22.660 --> 00:24:23.600 We're doing all right on time. 00:24:23.960 --> 00:24:25.240 We're going to spend the rest of our time. 00:24:25.300 --> 00:24:25.800 Right here. 00:24:25.900 --> 00:24:26.460 On this point. 00:24:26.600 --> 00:24:27.019 Christ. 00:24:27.400 --> 00:24:27.800 Restores. 00:24:28.400 --> 00:24:28.759 Everything. 00:24:29.360 --> 00:24:30.340 Look at verse 18. 00:24:32.019 --> 00:24:33.140 He is the head of the body. 00:24:33.160 --> 00:24:34.140 The church. 00:24:34.140 --> 00:24:35.259 The first born. 00:24:35.420 --> 00:24:36.360 From among the dead. 00:24:36.480 --> 00:24:37.300 So in everything. 00:24:37.620 --> 00:24:39.860 He might have the supremacy. 00:24:40.160 --> 00:24:42.360 Your Bible might say preeminence. 00:24:43.140 --> 00:24:43.980 The top spot. 00:24:44.320 --> 00:24:44.620 All right. 00:24:46.259 --> 00:24:49.620 For God was pleased to have all the fullness of God. 00:24:49.960 --> 00:24:51.160 Dwell in him. 00:24:51.420 --> 00:24:52.320 And through him. 00:24:52.600 --> 00:24:55.200 He reconciled all things to himself. 00:24:55.660 --> 00:24:58.140 Christ reconciles or restores everything. 00:24:59.279 --> 00:25:00.900 Romans chapter 8 verse 21. 00:25:01.360 --> 00:25:02.340 Paul talks about this. 00:25:02.420 --> 00:25:03.759 He's writing to the church in Rome. 00:25:03.759 --> 00:25:09.019 And he says creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay. 00:25:10.500 --> 00:25:11.340 Think about that. 00:25:11.420 --> 00:25:11.960 Look at it again. 00:25:12.040 --> 00:25:12.460 Read it again. 00:25:12.560 --> 00:25:13.780 Creation itself. 00:25:14.200 --> 00:25:15.160 Everything God created. 00:25:15.280 --> 00:25:15.759 The cosmos. 00:25:16.600 --> 00:25:17.960 Will be set free. 00:25:18.220 --> 00:25:20.880 It'll be liberated from its bondage to decay. 00:25:21.000 --> 00:25:23.740 Do you understand that this world around us decays? 00:25:23.740 --> 00:25:27.420 You understand your body decays? 00:25:28.480 --> 00:25:28.839 Yes. 00:25:31.140 --> 00:25:34.099 Certain voices in the room were a little louder on that than other voices. 00:25:34.519 --> 00:25:36.099 I'm not going to say that's an age thing. 00:25:36.200 --> 00:25:36.940 I'm just going to say look. 00:25:37.440 --> 00:25:38.339 It's true man. 00:25:38.420 --> 00:25:39.140 The older we get. 00:25:39.240 --> 00:25:43.579 The more we have to come to the grips of the fact that our bodies decay. 00:25:43.839 --> 00:25:46.400 Everything around us decays. 00:25:47.420 --> 00:25:49.220 Nothing lasts forever. 00:25:49.220 --> 00:25:56.380 However, Christ has the power to reverse that. 00:25:56.380 --> 00:25:59.720 And he will. 00:26:00.880 --> 00:26:03.560 Someday, this earth will go away. 00:26:04.900 --> 00:26:09.880 Someday, we will get to live in a universe with different rules. 00:26:10.420 --> 00:26:11.880 And there will be no decay. 00:26:13.060 --> 00:26:18.040 And everything will be perfect just as God intended it. 00:26:18.580 --> 00:26:20.420 Just as God created it. 00:26:20.420 --> 00:26:24.840 Just as God ultimately designed for it to be. 00:26:25.940 --> 00:26:27.779 But until then, we're bound. 00:26:28.279 --> 00:26:30.340 We're under bondage of decay. 00:26:30.740 --> 00:26:34.560 But God can reverse that in your life. 00:26:35.539 --> 00:26:39.100 I'm not saying he's going to unlock the fountain of youth in your kitchen sink. 00:26:39.140 --> 00:26:40.340 And you're going to get to live forever. 00:26:41.000 --> 00:26:43.460 I'm talking about your inner spirit. 00:26:43.820 --> 00:26:44.580 Your self. 00:26:44.820 --> 00:26:47.820 He can change that to where you're not decaying. 00:26:47.940 --> 00:26:49.340 You're actually thriving. 00:26:49.339 --> 00:26:50.980 You're actually growing. 00:26:51.399 --> 00:26:55.179 And the longer you spend with Jesus, the sweeter it becomes. 00:26:55.799 --> 00:26:57.220 And the better it is. 00:26:58.019 --> 00:26:59.859 It's not that there's no problems in your life. 00:26:59.959 --> 00:27:02.059 But you found the answer to those problems. 00:27:02.579 --> 00:27:06.039 You found the rock that can hold you through the storm. 00:27:07.659 --> 00:27:13.419 So the bondage to decay can be broken by the one who created it. 00:27:14.379 --> 00:27:15.980 So let's look at this. 00:27:16.480 --> 00:27:19.039 There are examples in nature. 00:27:19.339 --> 00:27:20.199 In creation. 00:27:20.639 --> 00:27:21.899 Of God doing this. 00:27:22.480 --> 00:27:23.759 Think about volcanoes. 00:27:25.480 --> 00:27:32.939 You see that black and white picture there of a town that's had a volcanic eruption come through. 00:27:33.019 --> 00:27:35.019 And the lava went through and just destroyed everything. 00:27:35.859 --> 00:27:36.819 And that's what volcanoes do. 00:27:36.899 --> 00:27:38.799 Anybody ever seen a volcano erupting? 00:27:39.179 --> 00:27:40.319 Maybe online or something. 00:27:40.319 --> 00:27:42.200 And now we've all seen everything online, right? 00:27:42.220 --> 00:27:43.659 There's videos of everything online. 00:27:44.139 --> 00:27:50.139 But you see the picture of the lava streaming down, just destroying everything in its path. 00:27:51.139 --> 00:27:53.679 Crazy thing is it moves a lot faster than you would think it would. 00:27:54.460 --> 00:27:57.119 This slow advance of lava. 00:27:57.119 --> 00:27:58.599 You go to Hawaii. 00:27:58.599 --> 00:28:02.279 You go to other places in the world that have had these volcanic eruptions. 00:28:02.639 --> 00:28:04.379 And you just think, this is terrible. 00:28:05.019 --> 00:28:06.579 This is nothing but disaster. 00:28:07.339 --> 00:28:09.959 But then you come back some years later. 00:28:09.960 --> 00:28:22.420 And scientists have figured out that volcanic ash produces some of the richest, most fertile soil for plants to grow in. 00:28:22.420 --> 00:28:31.740 And so you go back and you see these beautiful vineyards and some of the world's best grapes, etc. are grown in this volcanic soil. 00:28:32.400 --> 00:28:41.519 So from destruction, God changes it and produces something beautiful, something powerful. 00:28:41.880 --> 00:28:43.680 And that's what God can do. 00:28:43.940 --> 00:28:44.880 He can restore. 00:28:45.700 --> 00:28:47.600 He rules over the cosmos. 00:28:48.180 --> 00:28:49.740 He rules over everything. 00:28:49.740 --> 00:28:51.920 He rules over disorder. 00:28:51.920 --> 00:28:54.060 And from it, he can bring order. 00:28:54.360 --> 00:28:56.200 He rules over the tragedy. 00:28:56.580 --> 00:28:58.660 And from it, he can bring triumph. 00:28:59.539 --> 00:29:01.980 God can do it all. 00:29:02.960 --> 00:29:04.240 That's the God we worship. 00:29:04.680 --> 00:29:05.960 That's the God we serve. 00:29:06.560 --> 00:29:10.380 So, Jesus doesn't just reign. 00:29:10.980 --> 00:29:12.680 He also redeems. 00:29:13.560 --> 00:29:17.019 He can take what was used for evil. 00:29:17.019 --> 00:29:19.759 And he can use it for good. 00:29:19.759 --> 00:29:23.980 Romans 8, 28 gives us this beautiful promise. 00:29:23.980 --> 00:29:31.259 It says, God works everything together for the good of those who he has called. 00:29:32.019 --> 00:29:33.259 Those who he loves. 00:29:33.519 --> 00:29:34.220 His children. 00:29:34.220 --> 00:29:36.360 All of us. 00:29:36.980 --> 00:29:43.900 If you, by uplifted hand, I think the majority of people in here would say, yes, at some point in my life, I did what Gus Butler did. 00:29:44.079 --> 00:29:45.680 And I put my faith in Jesus. 00:29:45.680 --> 00:29:50.539 And then whether or not you ever stood up in front of a church and publicly testified with that with baptism. 00:29:50.759 --> 00:29:54.620 But you know that you are a child of God because he forgave you of your sin. 00:29:54.799 --> 00:29:57.940 Then, God has redeemed you. 00:29:58.100 --> 00:30:01.000 And he can continue to redeem you. 00:30:01.860 --> 00:30:06.340 And I encourage you, if you haven't taken that step of baptism, to testify about your faith. 00:30:06.400 --> 00:30:07.080 And make it public. 00:30:07.320 --> 00:30:09.279 And be accountable to a church family. 00:30:09.740 --> 00:30:10.420 And do that. 00:30:11.259 --> 00:30:12.019 Jesus did it. 00:30:12.060 --> 00:30:12.960 He gave us the example. 00:30:13.080 --> 00:30:14.240 He commanded us to do it. 00:30:15.420 --> 00:30:16.820 And it's a powerful thing. 00:30:17.100 --> 00:30:18.560 And Gus, I applaud you for that this morning. 00:30:19.860 --> 00:30:24.480 So, the preeminence of Christ. 00:30:28.980 --> 00:30:30.560 He is the image of God. 00:30:30.559 --> 00:30:33.539 He is God. 00:30:33.980 --> 00:30:35.220 He claimed to be God. 00:30:35.659 --> 00:30:36.619 And then he backed it up. 00:30:37.200 --> 00:30:39.599 So, we can trust him to reign over everything. 00:30:40.099 --> 00:30:42.960 We can trust him to restore everything. 00:30:43.879 --> 00:30:46.740 2 Corinthians chapter 5 and verse 19. 00:30:48.119 --> 00:30:52.740 God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ. 00:30:53.440 --> 00:30:56.159 So, you understand this was the plan from the beginning. 00:30:57.079 --> 00:30:58.460 Who sets the rules, church? 00:30:58.460 --> 00:30:58.539 Church. 00:31:01.279 --> 00:31:02.400 Yeah, let's say it together. 00:31:02.480 --> 00:31:03.240 Who sets the rules? 00:31:03.920 --> 00:31:05.100 God sets the rules. 00:31:05.740 --> 00:31:07.220 Is this his universe we're living in? 00:31:07.900 --> 00:31:08.779 Yes, it is. 00:31:09.460 --> 00:31:13.559 So, if he designed it, he ordered it, and he set the rules for it. 00:31:15.039 --> 00:31:19.039 Then when we break those rules, who are we accountable to? 00:31:20.120 --> 00:31:20.600 God. 00:31:21.140 --> 00:31:22.500 We broke God's rules. 00:31:22.759 --> 00:31:23.779 We're accountable to God. 00:31:24.720 --> 00:31:28.180 Does God have every right to punish us for the rules we've broken? 00:31:28.460 --> 00:31:31.860 Well, he describes that punishment. 00:31:33.660 --> 00:31:34.799 And you can look at it. 00:31:35.220 --> 00:31:36.279 You can read all about it. 00:31:36.360 --> 00:31:38.100 Revelation 21.8 talks about it. 00:31:38.140 --> 00:31:40.480 It's a terrifying punishment that he created for the devil. 00:31:40.480 --> 00:31:46.079 And so, he says, here's your punishment for breaking my laws. 00:31:46.200 --> 00:31:46.839 I set them up. 00:31:46.920 --> 00:31:47.579 I made them clear. 00:31:47.900 --> 00:31:49.160 So, this is what you need to do. 00:31:49.400 --> 00:31:51.039 He did it back in the garden with Adam and Eve. 00:31:51.079 --> 00:31:52.980 You can eat of every tree except this one. 00:31:53.019 --> 00:31:53.740 What did they go and do? 00:31:53.900 --> 00:31:55.299 They listened to the deceiver. 00:31:55.519 --> 00:32:00.099 And they ate from the tree of good and evil, which they were not supposed to. 00:32:01.420 --> 00:32:02.240 God knew they would. 00:32:02.960 --> 00:32:04.180 He designed that creation. 00:32:04.299 --> 00:32:05.539 He knew what their weaknesses were. 00:32:05.539 --> 00:32:09.940 He knew they would choose that over him and his command. 00:32:10.359 --> 00:32:11.720 We've been doing it ever since. 00:32:12.220 --> 00:32:15.240 And so, we all are rule breakers. 00:32:15.639 --> 00:32:18.019 We all are law breakers. 00:32:18.279 --> 00:32:22.319 Every one of you might look at yourself in the mirror and wake up in the morning and say, 00:32:22.659 --> 00:32:23.460 Hi, law breaker. 00:32:23.460 --> 00:32:26.079 And it would be true. 00:32:26.920 --> 00:32:28.960 Now, maybe you consider yourself a pretty good citizen. 00:32:29.340 --> 00:32:31.019 You say, I try not to break rules. 00:32:31.200 --> 00:32:32.400 I try not to break laws. 00:32:32.660 --> 00:32:35.620 Listen, that's me except for the posted speed limit. 00:32:35.880 --> 00:32:37.559 Every once in a while, I will break that. 00:32:38.620 --> 00:32:41.640 And if you've ridden with me, you know it's probably more than every once in a while. 00:32:41.759 --> 00:32:44.759 Anyway, my wife's not here. 00:32:44.880 --> 00:32:46.360 She'd be giving me the evil eye right now. 00:32:46.660 --> 00:32:47.940 Yeah, I need you to fix that. 00:32:47.940 --> 00:32:54.720 But we all have our laws, our rules that we're willing to break and then others that we're not willing to break. 00:32:55.779 --> 00:33:00.600 God paints us all with a broad brush and says, you're all law breakers. 00:33:01.759 --> 00:33:07.759 You might think you're not as bad as somebody else, but I see you all as equally guilty. 00:33:07.759 --> 00:33:12.519 Even though the consequences of your mistakes may have been more severe than others. 00:33:12.779 --> 00:33:15.740 You may have hurt more people in your law breaking than others have. 00:33:16.779 --> 00:33:20.759 But you're all have chosen against me. 00:33:20.980 --> 00:33:25.559 You've all voted for yourself instead of my laws, my rules. 00:33:26.000 --> 00:33:28.920 And so we needed help. 00:33:29.460 --> 00:33:30.960 We needed forgiveness. 00:33:30.960 --> 00:33:41.460 We needed someone to reconcile the relationship with our designer, our creator, our maker, our law giver. 00:33:42.259 --> 00:33:44.559 And that's what Jesus was. 00:33:44.640 --> 00:33:46.079 That was the plan from the beginning. 00:33:46.779 --> 00:33:51.079 I will now show you how much I love you in spite of your law breaking. 00:33:52.420 --> 00:33:56.680 So you don't come under the idea that you're worthy of my love. 00:33:56.720 --> 00:33:58.079 And why wouldn't I love you? 00:33:58.120 --> 00:33:59.120 Because you're so great. 00:33:59.119 --> 00:34:02.879 He doesn't want us to fall prey to that lie. 00:34:03.579 --> 00:34:05.519 To deceive ourselves that way. 00:34:05.819 --> 00:34:07.839 Well, of course God loves me. 00:34:08.579 --> 00:34:09.739 Have you seen me? 00:34:10.460 --> 00:34:12.000 Have you spent any time with me? 00:34:12.119 --> 00:34:13.059 I'm wonderful. 00:34:13.259 --> 00:34:14.460 Why wouldn't God love me? 00:34:15.739 --> 00:34:17.319 But we can't do that. 00:34:17.900 --> 00:34:19.500 We can't lie to ourselves that way. 00:34:19.500 --> 00:34:23.420 Because he's shown us just how bad we are. 00:34:24.579 --> 00:34:27.059 And then he said, I love you anyway. 00:34:27.059 --> 00:34:31.279 And so I'm going to sacrifice the one who hasn't sinned. 00:34:31.440 --> 00:34:32.679 I'm going to send him down. 00:34:32.900 --> 00:34:36.179 And he's going to show you how you could have lived this life. 00:34:36.820 --> 00:34:37.820 With compassion. 00:34:38.320 --> 00:34:39.139 With caring for others. 00:34:39.360 --> 00:34:41.340 With putting others ahead of yourself. 00:34:41.699 --> 00:34:44.619 With following God's laws and not breaking any of them. 00:34:44.619 --> 00:34:51.339 Jesus was the fulfillment of all the laws that you and I couldn't keep. 00:34:52.339 --> 00:34:55.980 And then he went and made them irrelevant. 00:34:56.940 --> 00:34:58.940 We talked about that a little bit recently. 00:35:00.940 --> 00:35:03.159 He said, now it's not about the laws. 00:35:03.859 --> 00:35:06.679 Now there's a relationship to be had. 00:35:06.679 --> 00:35:09.359 The relationship was not even there. 00:35:09.679 --> 00:35:10.679 It was broken. 00:35:11.500 --> 00:35:12.539 You broke my laws. 00:35:12.659 --> 00:35:13.659 You broke my commands. 00:35:14.139 --> 00:35:15.739 I have nothing to do with you. 00:35:15.899 --> 00:35:16.919 But then Jesus came. 00:35:17.599 --> 00:35:18.440 And Jesus died. 00:35:18.539 --> 00:35:19.319 And Jesus rose. 00:35:19.679 --> 00:35:24.399 And Jesus lives today as the living payment for our wrongdoing. 00:35:24.919 --> 00:35:26.819 And so God, what he was actually doing, 00:35:27.019 --> 00:35:32.940 was reconciling this evil, fallen, broken world back to himself. 00:35:32.940 --> 00:35:35.200 And you and I are part of it. 00:35:36.059 --> 00:35:39.300 So he was reconciling us to himself. 00:35:40.740 --> 00:35:47.740 God sent Jesus not only to redeem people, but to redeem all things. 00:35:48.300 --> 00:35:52.039 So just as Jesus came to heal our broken relationship with God, 00:35:52.320 --> 00:35:58.039 he also came to heal the consequences of the broken world we live in. 00:35:58.780 --> 00:36:02.679 There is hope in this broken world. 00:36:02.940 --> 00:36:05.039 If you're a follower of Jesus. 00:36:06.800 --> 00:36:10.400 God can change the track you're on. 00:36:11.420 --> 00:36:13.860 God can change the path you're on. 00:36:14.599 --> 00:36:18.280 God can show you what's broken about your life. 00:36:18.420 --> 00:36:20.579 And then God can fix it. 00:36:21.619 --> 00:36:24.740 God can not just fix it, but redeem it. 00:36:25.059 --> 00:36:25.740 Restore it. 00:36:26.139 --> 00:36:29.760 Use the brokenness to create something beautiful. 00:36:30.679 --> 00:36:31.840 So this is our concept. 00:36:31.840 --> 00:36:36.120 In him, all things hold together. 00:36:38.340 --> 00:36:39.780 He reconciles it. 00:36:40.280 --> 00:36:41.240 He redeems it. 00:36:41.300 --> 00:36:42.140 He died for it. 00:36:42.700 --> 00:36:43.660 He paid for it. 00:36:44.260 --> 00:36:47.600 He rose from the dead to show his power over it. 00:36:48.140 --> 00:36:51.600 And all things hold together in him. 00:36:52.100 --> 00:36:54.539 Now I want to show you a couple of visual examples of that. 00:36:54.539 --> 00:36:59.559 First off, this is your life as a follower of Jesus. 00:37:00.420 --> 00:37:04.880 Do you think that sometimes you fall as a follower of Jesus? 00:37:05.000 --> 00:37:07.300 Has anybody ever fallen in your life? 00:37:07.699 --> 00:37:08.739 Gone through a tough time? 00:37:08.880 --> 00:37:09.739 Maybe it was your fault. 00:37:10.579 --> 00:37:11.539 Maybe somebody else. 00:37:11.779 --> 00:37:12.519 Get your hands up. 00:37:12.579 --> 00:37:12.800 Come on. 00:37:12.820 --> 00:37:13.840 I know more of you than that. 00:37:13.920 --> 00:37:14.159 Yep. 00:37:14.159 --> 00:37:15.799 We fall, don't we? 00:37:16.019 --> 00:37:19.539 So what happens when we fall and we're a child of God? 00:37:24.399 --> 00:37:25.839 Still in one piece, man. 00:37:26.539 --> 00:37:27.659 That's it right there. 00:37:27.659 --> 00:37:31.039 God holds us together. 00:37:31.639 --> 00:37:36.420 The Bible says a righteous man falls seven times and rises yet again. 00:37:36.420 --> 00:37:44.920 If and when you fall, if you are in Christ, he's holding your life together. 00:37:46.180 --> 00:37:47.760 You might come up with some bruises. 00:37:48.599 --> 00:37:50.559 You might come up with some memories. 00:37:50.680 --> 00:37:51.940 You might come up with some consequences. 00:37:52.559 --> 00:37:56.820 But your life is held together by your creator, by your savior. 00:37:59.059 --> 00:38:02.519 Then there's the people who are not children of God. 00:38:02.519 --> 00:38:07.380 And they come up on some of those same problems in life. 00:38:12.900 --> 00:38:14.340 It doesn't hold together, does it? 00:38:15.059 --> 00:38:16.079 It doesn't hold together. 00:38:17.400 --> 00:38:22.320 Y'all aren't going to remember anything else about this sermon, but you're going to remember those blocks falling on the ground, aren't you? 00:38:24.259 --> 00:38:24.659 Listen. 00:38:25.860 --> 00:38:28.159 Colossians 1 and verse 20 says, 00:38:28.159 --> 00:38:33.839 Through the cross, Christ reconciles all things and holds them together. 00:38:34.399 --> 00:38:41.000 Your failures, your stumbles, your life not to the ground, he still holds it. 00:38:41.599 --> 00:38:44.859 Nothing collapses beyond his power. 00:38:45.539 --> 00:38:51.339 So the one who made it is the one who holds it together. 00:38:51.920 --> 00:38:53.099 And he made it all. 00:38:53.099 --> 00:38:58.339 The one who made it all is the one who holds it all together. 00:38:58.500 --> 00:39:00.139 And that includes you. 00:39:00.480 --> 00:39:01.860 And that includes me. 00:39:02.199 --> 00:39:03.900 So let's bow for prayer this morning. 00:39:04.440 --> 00:39:08.440 God, I pray that we would remember that we are held together by you. 00:39:08.839 --> 00:39:12.360 I trust that most of the people in this room are your children. 00:39:12.900 --> 00:39:17.059 And they're not resting on that fact because they've been to church. 00:39:17.360 --> 00:39:20.339 Or because they've always just kind of believed in you. 00:39:20.340 --> 00:39:27.039 But because there was a moment, just like Gus testified at VBS, when he said, you know what? 00:39:27.100 --> 00:39:28.579 I choose Jesus. 00:39:29.620 --> 00:39:30.700 Not myself. 00:39:31.420 --> 00:39:32.620 I need a savior. 00:39:33.160 --> 00:39:34.200 I have sinned. 00:39:34.600 --> 00:39:36.460 I need to be reconciled to God. 00:39:37.380 --> 00:39:38.519 Jesus offers that. 00:39:38.960 --> 00:39:40.720 And so I put my faith in him. 00:39:41.240 --> 00:39:42.100 Not me. 00:39:42.280 --> 00:39:43.160 Not anybody else. 00:39:43.240 --> 00:39:43.920 Not the church. 00:39:44.360 --> 00:39:45.220 Not any pastor. 00:39:45.360 --> 00:39:46.059 Not any priest. 00:39:46.400 --> 00:39:48.980 I put my faith in Jesus alone. 00:39:48.980 --> 00:39:52.960 Church, let me ask you that question. 00:39:53.039 --> 00:39:55.400 If there's somebody in the room that says, I need to do that today. 00:39:56.240 --> 00:39:57.639 I need to make that decision. 00:39:58.659 --> 00:40:04.219 And on this day, when Gus was baptized and we're hearing about how Jesus can reconcile this relationship, 00:40:04.619 --> 00:40:05.940 I want to do that today. 00:40:06.179 --> 00:40:08.420 I want to put my faith in Jesus for the first time. 00:40:08.900 --> 00:40:09.980 Would you slip your hand up? 00:40:10.000 --> 00:40:11.300 And I'll just pray for you as well. 00:40:11.300 --> 00:40:12.240 I'd love to talk to you after. 00:40:12.239 --> 00:40:15.759 If that's you, just slip your hand up now. 00:40:16.500 --> 00:40:17.119 Thank you. 00:40:18.339 --> 00:40:21.119 For most of you in this room, I believe you are a child of God. 00:40:23.399 --> 00:40:29.459 And so I just want to encourage you and remind you this morning that God holds you in his hands. 00:40:29.619 --> 00:40:31.899 He holds all the cosmos in his hands. 00:40:32.079 --> 00:40:33.719 He holds all the created universe. 00:40:33.719 --> 00:40:36.679 And he holds your life in his hands. 00:40:36.899 --> 00:40:40.539 And when you fall, God holds you together. 00:40:42.439 --> 00:40:43.539 So rest in that. 00:40:45.759 --> 00:40:48.799 Ask him for what purpose are you holding my life together? 00:40:50.980 --> 00:40:52.079 Go to him in prayer. 00:40:52.579 --> 00:40:53.379 Thank him for it. 00:40:54.399 --> 00:40:55.279 Revel in it. 00:40:56.039 --> 00:40:56.779 Enjoy it. 00:40:58.139 --> 00:41:00.179 Say, God, I don't want to just take it for granted. 00:41:00.179 --> 00:41:03.819 I want to thank you that you hold my life together. 00:41:04.299 --> 00:41:06.579 Even when loved ones pass away. 00:41:07.339 --> 00:41:11.379 Even when times of financial prosperity pass away. 00:41:12.460 --> 00:41:17.079 Even when there's uncertainty in life, I know you hold it together. 00:41:17.399 --> 00:41:18.519 I thank you for that assurance. 00:41:18.879 --> 00:41:20.019 I thank you for that peace. 00:41:20.219 --> 00:41:22.859 And I thank you for never letting me down. 00:41:24.199 --> 00:41:25.419 I've let myself down. 00:41:25.539 --> 00:41:26.599 Many have let me down. 00:41:28.219 --> 00:41:29.559 But Jesus never has. 00:41:30.179 --> 00:41:31.259 So thank him for that. 00:41:31.699 --> 00:41:36.599 And let's just spend the next minute or so just thanking God for holding us together.